Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Plainsman tries to give Cox another big New York win
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – This year, trainer Brad Cox has won the Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Whitney, three of the biggest prizes on the New York Racing Association circuit. Saturday, Cox will attempt to snag the last Grade 1 stakes offered in New York in 2021 when he sends out Plainsman in the $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Plainsman won’t be favored like Essential Quality was in the Belmont and Travers or Knicks Go was in the Whitney, but he is in with a chance against the likes of Independence Hall, Following Sea, and Code of Honor.
Plainsman, who three years ago won the Grade 3 Discovery here, has won four of his last six starts, including the Grade 3 Ack Ack going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs. Last out, he finished third going seven furlongs in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont as the even-money favorite.
“I thought that he had a little bit of a troubled trip just because we asked him to be a little more forward than he naturally wants to be and it got him a little aggressive,” Cox said. “Running seveneighths you can’t be in a tangle between the half-mile pole and three-eighths [poles]. He was in a tight spot and never got comfortable.”
Manny Franco rides Plainsman in the Cigar Mile from post 2. Drawn inside of Plainsman is Following Sea, the third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Outside of Plainsman, in post order, are Americanrevolution, Code of Honor, Independence Hall, Ginobili, Olympiad, and Pipeline.
The Cigar Mile will go as the last of 10 races on a card that begins at 11:50 a.m.
Distance test for Lady Rocket
Cox also will be represented Saturday in the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap with Lady Rocket, who will be attempting a mile for the first time. Lady Rocket, a daughter of Tale of the Cat, has won three races at seven furlongs, including the faster of two divisions of the Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 31.
In deciding on a race for Lady Rocket, Cox said he was between the Go for Wand and the $100,000 Sugar Swirl going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 18.
“I think she likes a little [farther] than three-quarters,” said Cox, who has been training Lady Rocket at Churchill Downs. “I’m not sure she likes a mile. We’ll see. She’s doing really well. It gives us confidence to ship back up.”
Lady Rocket drew post 2 and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Miss Marissa, the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap winner, drew the rail as she turns back to a one-turn mile for the first time since she finished sixth in the Grade 1 Frizette in 2019. California shipper Bella Vita drew post 3, followed by So Darn Hot, Honor Way, Truth Hurts and Sharp Starr, the New Yorkbred who won last year’s Go for Wand.
Fresh from maiden ranks
Maiden winners Mo Donegal and Zandon head a field of eight entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race that does not include a stakes winner.
After finishing third in his debut sprinting, Mo Donegal stretched out and won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race by 1 1/2 lengths on Oct. 21. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the Todd Pletcher-trained Mo Donegal from the rail in the Remsen.
Zandon, trained by Chad Brown, will be attempting to stretch out from a debut win going six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles in his second start. He drew post 7.
Also entered were Who Hoo That’s Me, Judge Davis, Fromanothamutha, and MidAtlantic shippers Midnight Chrome, Eloquist, and Mr Jefferson.
There were three defections from the race, including Forced Ranking, Overstep, and Unbridled Bomber.
Nostalgic better than figure?
Visually, Nostalgic looked extremely impressive winning her debut by 7 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park on Oct. 22. But when the speed figures came back from the race, it didn’t seem so impressive. Nostalgic received just a 48 Beyer Speed Figure for a final time recorded as 1:47.36 for 1 1/16 miles.
“If you’re a sheets guy or a Beyer guy, it’s a little discouraging to see what kind of number she produced,” said Bill Mott, the trainer of Nostalgic. “Just to watch it, it looked good to me, and the rider liked it.”
Nostalgic, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, will make her second start in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro should be able to handle the 1 1/8 miles, and doesn’t meet an overpowering field. Magic Circle and Nest, second and third in the Tempted Stakes, are back in the Demoiselle. Miss Interpret, winner of the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson Stakes, but eighthplace finisher in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, is one of two stakes winners in the field. Venti Valentine, winner of the Maid of the Mist for New York-breds, is the other.
Tap the Faith, a good-looking debt winner going a mile, and the maiden Full Count Felicia round out the field.